New Women's Head Coach

[SFP]

when Geno was hired they had several community events and people could meet him - I hope they do the same for Mike

They'll have to think a little more outside of the proverbial box. As mentioned the visibility of the men's team is so much greater that the women will have to try and form their unique relationship with the students and community. I'm not sure what is allowed but it would not hurt to perhaps invite the young local girls basketball players to perhaps take part in a shoot around with the players. They could also do a fund raiser and challenge the community to support them. It seems getting the students support may be even harder. I'd also like to believe BU could do something as a whole within the underprivileged community and perhaps sponsor a big brother sister program and have a few special events wrapped around these games. If the men's team has issues with student support I'd suspect the women should concentrate on the local community even more.

[BUBraves fan]

Regarding the keeping the potential head coaching applicants out of the media, two thoughts: None of us so much as had a hint that Buscher was leaving until she was listed as a finalist for the SIU-E job and it's July...who is around campus or Dr. Cross' office to report who is coming and going? That was a well kept secret.

This is a tough time to be hiring coaches, it's JULY - peak player evaluation period, most coaches are out working for their respective schools. Rumor has it, he let Lisa Robinson go, so he's actually looking for two assistants and a DBO. Not a good position to be in.....in mid-July.

[basketball nut]

Just updating myself on BF and for what it is worth I really think Coach Brooks is a good choice. Was he the best choice? I am just like the rest of you I have not idea but lets get behind him and support him at games. The one thing I noticed last year was the girls seemed to respond to him before games and @ half time as he was always coaching-that might have been part of his job but I was impressed by him.
If each one of that reads this board would commit to going to a minamum of 3 games each we would aLL be making a difference in the ladies BB program.

[ColBill60]

Support for the Lady Braves

Fan support is a key element in a team feeling like they are playing for someone and something. Bradley's weakness, at least the past two years in the Rennaissance, has been STUDENT fan support. Support by members of the staff and community has generally been 300-500 folks. Except for the pep band and cheerleaders, it's been hard to find any other students in the stands. Lots of work to be done here to get the students out to enjoy the play and cheer on the gals. But for whatever reason, student support for most Bradley sports is lacking. Any ideas?

[SFP]

Fan support is a key element in a team feeling like they are playing for someone and something. Bradley's weakness, at least the past two years in the Rennaissance, has been STUDENT fan support. Support by members of the staff and community has generally been 300-500 folks. Except for the pep band and cheerleaders, it's been hard to find any other students in the stands. Lots of work to be done here to get the students out to enjoy the play and cheer on the gals. But for whatever reason, student support for most Bradley sports is lacking. Any ideas?

The same thing has been said about the men's team. Perhaps BU needs to look into the type of student that they recruit to BU. Is athletic participation in HS a big part of the scorecard? Kids that played competitive sports in HS naturally follow college sports more. If they are enrolling a bunch of kids who like nothing better then spending their evenings playing EA Sports, well what do you expect?

The school needs to create a relationship between the sports team and the student body. There is a lack of connection I bet. How do you fix that is the real question?

[ColBill60]

Student Fan Support

I would offer several reasons for the lack of belonging/support by the students for the teams. (1) The teams live segregated from the general student body so few, if any, free time friendships are formed. (2) Most athletes do not eat in the student dining facilities on campus so again limited interaction with other students. (3) Limited involvement by athletes in student-related clubs due to their practice and travel demands.
The athletes are more involved in off-campus community projects than on campus. Good projects and they establish positive role modelling experiences for those they come into contact with. But there needs to be a balance between the two.
The fraternaties and sororities should be a natural place to get students involved. The one attempt last year was a limited success due to little planning on what was needed by each side. The school should encourage the social groups to "do their part" and actively solicit their particpation. Same with other clubs/groups on campus.
Also, why isn't there a student support club as there are at many other schools? Most all schools in the ACC, SEC, etc have very active student athletic support groups that make up a significant number of those attending games. Not that Bradley should emulate all they do, but it could be done at a reduced level.
We gotta start somewhere!

[Buesch N Chips]

Also, why isn't there a student support club as there are at many other schools? Most all schools in the ACC, SEC, etc have very active student athletic support groups that make up a significant number of those attending games. Not that Bradley should emulate all they do, but it could be done at a reduced level.
We gotta start somewhere!

They do. It's called the Red Sea.

[abesimpson]

I would offer several reasons for the lack of belonging/support by the students for the teams. (1) The teams live segregated from the general student body so few, if any, free time friendships are formed. (2) Most athletes do not eat in the student dining facilities on campus so again limited interaction with other students. (3) Limited involvement by athletes in student-related clubs due to their practice and travel demands.
The athletes are more involved in off-campus community projects than on campus. Good projects and they establish positive role modelling experiences for those they come into contact with. But there needs to be a balance between the two.
The fraternaties and sororities should be a natural place to get students involved. The one attempt last year was a limited success due to little planning on what was needed by each side. The school should encourage the social groups to "do their part" and actively solicit their particpation. Same with other clubs/groups on campus.
Also, why isn't there a student support club as there are at many other schools? Most all schools in the ACC, SEC, etc have very active student athletic support groups that make up a significant number of those attending games. Not that Bradley should emulate all they do, but it could be done at a reduced level.
We gotta start somewhere!

1. Not all teams get their players in apartments right away and get to skip the dorms. I think that may only be mens basketball. I specifically remember some soccer and softball players in Geisert.
2. Again not always true, I used to see the entire mens basketball team for breakfast at Williams after one of my early classes that ended right around when they were done with practice. When and where they eat probably just depends on class and practice or workout schedules.
3. Good point. From all of the athletes I ever knew or talked to, all they had time for was class, eating, sleeping, and their sport. They're partying was mostly in their off-season.

Athletes mostly like to keep to themselves and hang out with athletes other from what I remember. You either saw a bunch of them around campus or at an event, or none. Kinda similar to the Greek crowd.

A few exceptions from the mens team were Zach Andrews and Saihou Jassey when I was at BU. Zach would smile and talk to just about anyone he passed. Seemed like a really good guy. Saihou was pretty friendly too and was always looking for something to do. We'd see him out at parties or soccer games all the time, and not always with other basketball teammates, so that was different. My senior year he came to a big party we threw at the end of the semester and let me try on his Sweet 16 ring.

Student apathy at BU has been rampant for a long time and is not just evident in the lack of student support at home games. All organizations and clubs struggle with getting student turnout for events and/or membership and participation. There's just a lot of different crowds. Free food is the only sure thing to get attention

[BUBraves fan]

1. Not all teams get their players in apartments right away and get to skip the dorms. I think that may only be mens basketball. I specifically remember some soccer and softball players in Geisert.

Athletes mostly like to keep to themselves and hang out with athletes other from what I remember. You either saw a bunch of them around campus or at an event, or none. Kinda similar to the Greek crowd.

Student apathy at BU has been rampant for a long time and is not just evident in the lack of student support at home games. All organizations and clubs struggle with getting student turnout for events and/or membership and participation. There's just a lot of different crowds. Free food is the only sure thing to get attention

Abesimpson, I can tell you that the women's basketball players, up until last year, also lived in the same apartment buildings off campus, that the men's players did. Last year, the women's bball team tried something different, and put the freshmen in the dorms, granted there were only three of them but that still gave them the opportunity to get to interact with someone other than just their teammates.

And your comment about athletes hanging together - is dead on. And perhaps the living arrangements contribute to that, they live, travel, practice, play games, shop, and go to campus together. Maybe it's too much "togetherness", and living in the dorms, for at least the first year would help them get to know other non-basketball players and in turn spark interest in the program(s).

Sadly, you're right about student participation across the board. I wonder if other schools like Drake, and CU for example, without a football program to anchor school spirit, have the same problem. Anyone know?

[Braves4Life]

Drake does... Creighton does not. CU has great fan support.

[ColBill60]

School Support for Women's Basketball

Look at the stats for Drake and Creighton, and it shows good attendance supporting their women's basketball team. For 2011-2012, Drake (9-4 at home) drew an average of 2,091 fans. Creighton (9-5 at home) drew 892 fans. Bradley doesn't show their attendance figures for 2012-2012, but it wasn't near either of those schools.

[tornado]

Here are Bradley's 2011-2012 women's basketball attendance numbers

http://www.mvc.org/wbb/stats/2012/bu.htm

ATTENDANCE
.....Games Total Avg/game
HOME 15 13605 907
AWAY 15 20220 1348
NEUTRAL 4 1886 472
TOTAL 34 35711 1050